Warren doble



Jan. 14, 1930. w. DOBLE 7 1,743,440

STEAM POWER PLANT Filed Fe b. 2. 1926 IN VENTOE Warren Dob/e.

Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WARREN DOBLE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO DOBLE STEAM MOTORS CORPORATION, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A GORPORATION'OF DELAWARE STEAM POWER PLANT Application filed February The invention relates to steam power plants for use on vehicles and has for its object the provision of improved means for maintaining the supply of water therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining or augmenting the supply of water for a steam power plant employed under conditions where an abundant supply of fresh water is not available, as for instance on vehicles such as automobiles, boats and aircraft. 'In the operation of steam power plants there is a continual loss of water and it is the purpose of this invention to provide means for partially or wholly compensating for this loss.

The invention is particularly applicable to steam power plants in which steam is generated by the combustion of hydrocarbons, such as gasoline, kerosene or other liquid fuels.

The combustion of hydrocarbon fuel in air produces water vapor, and in carrying out my invention, I utilize this phenomenon for maintaining the supply of water for the system. More particularly, I recover water formed by the combination of the hydrogen in the fuel with the oxygen in the air. This chemical combination occurs during the combustion of any fuel having hydrogen as a constituent, such as gasoline. The products of combustion resulting from such combustion are cooled in passing over the steam generator tubes and water condenses upon the coolest tubes of the boiler. This condensate is collected and run into the boiler feed water tank.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following de- 2, 1926. Serial No. 85,493.

In the drawing I have shown one form of steam power plant embodying my invention. The power plant comprises a steam generator 2 enclosed in a casing 3, the generator including a combustion chamber 4 and steam generating tubes 5. Water is introduced into the tubes through the pipe 6, being forced therethrough by the pump 7 which draws its supply from the feed water tank 8. The pump is driven by the steam engine 9 which is supplied with steam from the generator through the pipe 12, the exhaust steam passing to the condenser 13, whence the condensate flows through the pipe 14 to the tank 8. The combustible mixture of air and liquid fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber through the passage 15, the air being supplied by the blower 16 and the fuel being supplied through the conduit 17 The products of combustion pass through the steam generating chamber in a direction opposite to the flow of water, in the present instance the products of combustion passing downwardly and the water upwardly. This causes the products of combustion to be initially brought into contact with the steam and superheater tubes of the generator and subsequently into contact with the water tubes, thus resulting in a maximum heat interchange, so that the products of combustion pass into the exhaust conduit 18 at a relatively low temperature.

The combustion of hydrocarbon fuel in air results in the production of water vapor and due to the counter-flow of products of combustion and water, this water vapor condenses on the lower or cooler tubes of the generator, which, for the purpose of differentiation, may be termed the feed water tubes, since they are the tubes in which the feed water is still at a comparatively low temperature. The water which condenses on the tubes drips on to the bottom 19 of the generator casing and flows out through the exhaust conduit 18. Means are provided for collecting and conserving this condensate for use as feed water.

Arranged across the surface of the exhaust conduit 18 is a barrier or trap 21 which directs the condensate to the drain 22, whenceit flows through the pipe 23 intothe feed water tank 8, where it augments the supply of feed water.

I claim:

1. In a steam power plant, a steam enerator, means for passing water throug said generator in one direction, means for passing products of combustion of fuel through the generator in the opposite direction whereby water vapor in the products of combustion is condensed, means for collecting the condensate, and means for introducing the condensate into the generator.

2. The method of augmenting the feed water supply of a steam generator heated by the combustion of hydrocarbon fuel which comprises condensing water vapor from the gases of combustion of the fuel, collecting the condensate, and adding the condensate to the feed water supply.

3. In a steam power plant which burns a hydrocarbon fuel, a heat absorbing medium containing device for producing steam and 'for condensing water of combustion, and

means for augmenting the feed water supply of said power plant with said water of combustion.

4. In a steam power plant, a steam gen erator, a hydrocarbon burner in which com bustion of a hydrocarbon takes place to heat said generator, a surface on which water in the products of said combustion condenses,

and means for introducing said condensed water into said generator.

5. The method of operating a steam power plant burning a hydrocarbon fuel which comprises condensing the water vapor from the gases of combustion of said fuel, collecting said condensate substantially free of soot,

and augmenting the feed water supply with said condensate.

6. The method of operating upon a closed water cycle a steam fpower plant adapted to burn a hydrocarbon uel comprising securing the make up water necessary to complete the water cycle of said plant from the products of combustion of said fuel.

7. A steam power plant comprising a steam generator, a hydrocarbon burner in which combustion of a hydrocarbon takes place to heat said generator, a surface on which the water in the products of said combustion condenses substantially free of soot particles, and means for introducing said condensed water into said generator.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WARREN DOBLE. 

